The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-08
SOME VALUABLE HISTORY.

General Assembly terminated last night by
constitutional limitation. Very little was ac-
complished during the session. 1t was prac-
tically failure, the worst in the history of the
State. This was owing solely and entirely to
the revolutionary course pursued by the Dem
ocrats, headed by Senator Green Smith The
revolution was inaugurated at the beginning
of the session and kept up till the close, cover
ing the entire period Of sixty-one days. Its
object was to exclude Col. r. S. Robertson
from the Office Of Lieutenant-governor to
which he was elected last fall, and to retain
Green Smith as President of the Senate. To
ticed series of usurpations and outrages
without a parallel in the history of this or any
other State. Their course was the result of
political conspiracy AS matter of history
we note the following facts in connection with
its development:
On the I'd of August, 1886, Lieutenant
governor Manson was appointed collector of
internal revenue for Indiana, and accepted
the position, thus vacating the Office of Lieu-
enant-governor. The State conventions of
both parties were soon to meet and discus
sion Immediately arose as to the effect of
Manson's resignation, and whether the vacancy
should be filled at the ensuing November
elected President pro tenn just before the close
Of the session Of 1885, and the question was
raised whether he might not succeed to the
| Office Of Lieutenant governor. On the Sd of
| August Governor Gray was interviewed on the
| subject by Journal reporter. He said:
II have just been looking up the question
| and am of the opinion that it will be neces-
sary to elect Lieutenant governor to fill the
vacancy. am not positive about the matter,
however | have just requested the Attorney
general to look up the law. and I will know
! definitely within day or two. There is no
! doubt whatever about the President pro
tempore not holding over, and / do not un-
derstand why any one ever thought of raising
such question The President pro tempore
| is simply elected to preside over the Senate
temporarily. A President may be elected
every day during the session."
AT this stage of the business there was some
| diversity of opinion among politicians, but the
foregoing shows that Governor Gray had very
nearly reached a conclusion as to the neces
sity of an election, and was fully decided on
the point that Green Smith, as President pro
TEN. of the Senate, could not possibly sue
ceed to the vacant Lieutenant governorship
nor hold over as President pro tenn. of the Sen
ate. The next day Governor Gray was inter
viewed again, and said:
1.-THE more | examine the law bearing upon
the question, the more l become convinced
that Leutenant-governor ought to be elect
ed. am waiting for the Attorney generals
opinion on the matter before coming to def
mite conclusion but am very strongly of the
opinion that there ought to be an election.
For the reason that there is doubt about the
matter think it would at least be we'll enough,
as a precautionary move, to elect some person.
am in favor of giving the people chance. "
Governor Gray was better lawyer and Dem
ocrat then than he has been during the ses-
sion of the Legislature Then he was right
on the law, and was ''in favor of giving the
people a chance" During the session he oc-
cupied the opposite position On both ques-
tons. But the result of the election was a
disappointment, and that being the case the
Governor was not Gin favor of giving the peo-
pie chance" On the day the last interview
was published other prominent Democrats ex-
pressed the same opinion, viz, that an cleo
ton was necessary.
On the 9Th of August the Democratic At
torney- general Hord, i'll compliance with the
Governors request, gave his official opinion in
the case in which he held: First, that there
was vacancy in the office Of Lieutenant.
governor, caused by the resignation of Gen
eral Manson; second, that the President Of
the Senate could not succeed to the office
third, that it should be filled by the people al
the next general election. On the last point
he said:
'1n case of vacancy, permanent or tenn
porary, in the office of Governor, the duties
of that Office devolve upon the Lieutenant
| governor, but this does not create a vacancy
III the latter office The case, however is
different when the Lieutenant governor dies
or resigns In such case there is an actual
vacancy in that Office, which should be filled
by the people at the next general election
The Attorney general further held that the
new Leutenant-governor would be elected 70,
Manson's unexpired term. or until January
1889. This opinion was accepted or all hands
and by both parties as conclusive, and the
discussion at once turned to possible candi
dates On the Democratic side were men
5 tened r. c. Bell, of Allen county; G. v
} Menzies, of Posey; Green Smith, of Jennings
J. c. Nelson, of Cass; w. r. Myers, of Madi